South Carolina High School Adds Fence for Security

The fence is 7 feet tall and is locked during school hours.

By Jessica Davis

January 10, 2019

Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C., has installed a fence in front of the school as part of a long-term project to boost security at district campuses. Northwestern’s security upgrades focus on access control.

The fence is 7 feet tall and is locked during school hours. The gates are only unlocked during student arrival and student dismissal.

During the winter break, a classroom was converted into a new front office with two doors and a “welcome center” reception area. All visitors to the campus have to enter through the front office now, as well as students who arrive to campus late, after the gates are locked.

The school resource officer’s office has also been moved to the new front office.

"If we can make our students feel just a little more safe on campus, make our staff feel more secure as they're in their classrooms doing their jobs, then we can do a better job with instruction," Northwestern Principal Hezekiah Massey III said.

Two handguns, one of which was loaded, were found on Northwestern’s campus this school year, leading to random bag checks at all three district high schools.

According to Massey, area high schools hope to add a second full-time school resource officer on their campuses, but the addition is not funded at this time.